Occupational Therapy Doctorate

Roxanna Bendixen, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Division Director

The Occupational Therapy Educational program at MUSC was the first professional, graduate entry-level program in the state of South Carolina. The entry-level OTD is distinguished among the nation’s finest occupational therapy doctoral programs through its commitment to supporting health and participation in life. The program embraces the university’s core values: compassion, collaboration, respect, integrity, and innovation.

The Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) degree prepares students for lifelong and rewarding careers. Graduates are prepared to improve the quality of life for people who experience difficulties and challenges to everyday living.

Our high-quality program is provided at an academic medical center and the curriculum is rigorous and engaging. Educational technology enhances classroom learning, group work develops professional skills, and experiential learning refines practice skills.

Interprofessional education is a hallmark of the program and involves connections with other health professionals across the campus and in the community. Research shows that working in teams produces better outcomes. Teamwork supports innovation and promotes excellence.

Beginning in the second year, fieldwork experiences are an integral part of the curriculum and allow opportunities for direct observation and participation in a variety of practice settings and contexts. These experiences help integrate learning from the classroom and lab and enhance capacity for becoming a proficient occupational therapist. We are excited to offer 4 courses online: Evidence-Based Practice I (Semester 2), Population Health and Visionary Leadership (Semester 6), and Professional Seminar (Semester 8). Students should have access to personal technology such as a laptop computer, tablet, or PC throughout the duration of the program as well as a working webcam when taking the online courses.

Semesters seven and eight are two full-time 12-week fieldwork rotations at facilities throughout the state and across the country working under the direct supervision of a clinical instructor. The final semester involves a Doctoral Capstone course. The 14-credit capstone course provides an in-depth, customized experience specific to the interests, skills, and professional goals of the occupational therapy student.

Accreditation

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.

Graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). NBCOT Exam Data will be available shortly after graduating our first ELOTD class in May of 2022. Passing the NBCOT Certification Examination is necessary, but each state may have additional requirements for state licensure. You can find information about state licensure here.

Curriculum

Year 1, Summer

OTD 800	Intro to Occupational Therapy	2
OTD 802	Therapeutic Interactions	1
OTD 803	Therapeutic Interactions Lab	1
OTD 806	Human Anatomy	4
OTD 807	Surface Anatomy Lab	1
Semester Total		9

Year 1, Fall

OTD 810	Neuroscience	4
OTD 813	Musculoskeletal I	2
OTD 813L	Musculoskeletal I Lab	2
OTD 815	Evidenced-Based Practice I	2
OTD 817	Pediatrics I	3
OTD 817L	Pediatrics I Lab	1
IP 711	IP Foundations & Teamstepps	1
Semester Total		15

Year 1, Spring

OTD 809	Pathophysiology	3
OTD 814	Musculoskeletal II	3
OTD 814L	Musculoskeletal II Lab	1
OTD 818	Pediatrics II	3
OTD 818L	Pediatrics II Lab	2
Semester Total		12

Year 2, Summer

OTD 820	Neurorehabilitation II	1
OTD 816	Level I Fieldwork A	1
OTD 819	Neurorehabilitation I	2
OTD 819L	Neurorehabilitation I Lab	1
OTD 820L	Neurorehabilitation II Lab	1
OTD 825	Evidenced-Based Practice II	1
OTD 842	Musculoskeletal III	2
OTD 842L	Musculoskeletal III Lab	1
Semester Total		10

Year 2, Fall

OTD 835	Scholarship I	1
OTD 835S	Scholarship I Seminar	1
OTD 812	Visionary Leadership	1-3
OTD 821	Neurorehabilitation III	3
OTD 821L	Neurorehabilitation III Lab	1
OTD 822	Level I Fieldwork B	1
OTD 830	Leadership and Management I	3
OTD 840	Psychosocial Practice	2
OTD 840L	Psychosocial Practice Lab	1
Semester Total		14-16

Year 2, Spring

OTD 805	Population Health	2-3
OTD 831	Leadership and Management II	3
OTD 838	Synthesis of Clinical Skills	1
OTD 832L	Synthesis Lab	1
OTD 834	Topics in Aging	1
OTD 834L	Topics in Aging Lab	1
OTD 836	Scholarship II	1
OTD 836S	Scholarship II Seminar	1
OTD 846	Level I Fieldwork C	1
IP ###	IP Concentration Course of Choice	1
Semester Total		13-14

Year 3, Summer

OTD 854	Level II Fieldwork A	12
Semester Total		12

Year 3, Fall

OTD 880	Professional Seminar *	1
OTD 839	Level II Fieldwork B	12
Semester Total		13

Year 3, Spring

OTD 887	Capstone	1-14
Semester Total		1-14

Curriculum Total

99-115

* OTD 880 can also be taken in Year 3 - Spring